Benedict XVI teaches proper use of reason, affirms Cardinal Bertone

The cardinal made his comments last week during the presentation of the first Italian volume of the complete works of Joseph Ratzinger titled, “The Theology of the Liturgy.”

After noting that the Holy Father has always defended the Second Vatican Council’s continuity with the Church’s tradition, Cardinal Bertone said this first volume of the Pope’s works is intended “to help the Church in a great renewal that is only possible if we ‘love the Beloved,’ as the liturgy teaches."

Then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger has always helped the Church in this effort, “through a lifetime of research” that has produced more than a hundred books and more than 600 articles, he said. The complete works will bring together his entire body of writings into 16 volumes.

Cardinal Bertone pointed out that the Pope’s theological method “always has serious and sharp biblical analysis as its starting point, moving on later to the Fathers of the Church—of whom he possesses vast knowledge—in order to arrive at a systematic theological reflection.”

This rigorous process, he said, does not mean that we are confined in our thinking, but rather guarantees that we can offer an original and illuminating commentary on the present.